Louisiana artist to display work in Patterson museum

The exhibit opened to the pubic on July 17 and will continue to Nov. 1. A reception with Rodrigue is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 24. The artist reception is free and open to the public.

Mike Vinning

Published: Friday, August 1, 2008 at 3:00 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 11:03 a.m.

The Louisiana State Museum – Patterson is currently hosting the art work of New Iberia native, George Rodrigue, Louisiana’s most famous, contemporary artist.

“It is such an honor to have the work of Rodrigue at our museum,” said Kathryn Delee, director of LSM-Patterson. “His paintings are a wonderful testament to Louisiana culture and he is a reflection of all the creativity and energy that makes Louisiana great.”

The museum director said Rodrigue is displaying select Cajun works from the Begneaud Family collection, the Saga of the Acadians series from the Gauthier Family collection and his famous Blue Dogs from Rodrigue and his wife’s, Wendy, collection.

“It was exciting to work with George’s wife, Wendy, to design the exhibit so it would tell the story of the Cajun people and the culture they brought to Louisiana,” Delee said.

The bulk of the show consists of the Saga series of paintings that tells the story of the exile of Cajuns from Nova Scotia and their migration to southern Louisiana.

“It depicts the return of some Cajuns to their homeland and, of course, the story of those who remained down south and gave birth to our Cajun culture, which is visually represented in Rodrigue’s works titled ‘Cajun’,” Delee said.

Rodrigue contracted polio at age 8 and while at home, recovering from the disease, he discovered art. He would go on to study art at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette before polishing his skills as a student at the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles.

Rodrigue made his homecoming in 1969 and began painting full time, “…creating moody landscapes and nostalgic scenes of Cajun life,” said John Bullard, director of the New Orleans Museum of Art in a previous Big Fun interview. The New Orleans museum featured Rodrigue’s art earlier this year.

“It is a beautiful and a unique show,” Delee said. “We are fortunate to have pieces on display that were not seen at the NOMA show.”

The majority of the ‘Cajun’ pieces from the Begneaud Collection have never been on public display until now.

In a previous interview, Bullard contributed the wide-spread acceptance of Rodrigue’s art, in part, to his ability to market himself in nontraditional ways, such as incorporating his paintings into just a few of the posters designed to commemorate the many festivals held year round in small towns across Louisiana.

This strategy lead to a series of paintings of famous Louisianans and eventually to a new level of fame in the late 1980s with the introduction of the Blue Dog, inspired by the ‘loup garou’ or Cajun werewolf folktale made iconic by American pop culture.

Delee said the Blue Dog was first introduced as an illustration to a short story; a story which can be found in the book “Bayou: 40 Cajun Short Stories” by Chris Segura.

“Each story in the book is accompanied by a full-color, illustration plate by Rodrigue,” Delee said. “We are excited to have the very same book that launched the now infamous Blue Dog available at our exhibit.”

The Louisiana artist’s work is not just known to those in south Louisiana.

“Rodrigue’s work has been presented in Paris and Rome; he has opened two galleries in New Orleans and Carmel, Calif., and painted the portraits of presidents Regan and Bush Sr.,” states a news release from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.

Most recently, Rodrigue had the honor of presenting his work to President George W. Bush, Mexican President Felipe Calderone and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the North American Leaders Summit.

“I feel very privileged that George was willing to work with us to put on a show in such a small town like Patterson,” Delee said. “It’s a great asset to the area to have an artist of Rodrigue’s magnitude exhibiting in St. Mary Parish.”

The exhibit opened to the pubic July 17 and will continue to Nov. 1. A reception with Rodrigue is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 24. The artist reception is free and open to the public.

Tickets for the exhibit cost $3 for adults, $2 for seniors age 55 and over, all students and active military personnel with proper identification. Admission for children ages 12 and under is free. Museum hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Tickets may be purchased at the museum, 118 Cotten Road, Patterson. For reservations and information about discounted rates for adult groups of 15 or more, call 399-1268.

The book “Bayou” will be available at the exhibit for $25 with a portion of the proceeds to be used to support the Louisiana State Museum – Patterson and the services it provides to St. Mary and surrounding parishes.

<p>The Louisiana State Museum – Patterson is currently hosting the art work of New Iberia native, George Rodrigue, Louisiana’s most famous, contemporary artist.</p><p>It is such an honor to have the work of Rodrigue at our museum, said Kathryn Delee, director of LSM-Patterson. His paintings are a wonderful testament to Louisiana culture and he is a reflection of all the creativity and energy that makes Louisiana great.</p><p>The museum director said Rodrigue is displaying select Cajun works from the Begneaud Family collection, the Saga of the Acadians series from the Gauthier Family collection and his famous Blue Dogs from Rodrigue and his wife’s, Wendy, collection.</p><p>It was exciting to work with George’s wife, Wendy, to design the exhibit so it would tell the story of the Cajun people and the culture they brought to Louisiana, Delee said.</p><p>The bulk of the show consists of the Saga series of paintings that tells the story of the exile of Cajuns from Nova Scotia and their migration to southern Louisiana.</p><p>It depicts the return of some Cajuns to their homeland and, of course, the story of those who remained down south and gave birth to our Cajun culture, which is visually represented in Rodrigue’s works titled Cajun’, Delee said.</p><p>Rodrigue contracted polio at age 8 and while at home, recovering from the disease, he discovered art. He would go on to study art at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette before polishing his skills as a student at the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles.</p><p>Rodrigue made his homecoming in 1969 and began painting full time,  creating moody landscapes and nostalgic scenes of Cajun life, said John Bullard, director of the New Orleans Museum of Art in a previous Big Fun interview. The New Orleans museum featured Rodrigue’s art earlier this year.</p><p>It is a beautiful and a unique show, Delee said. We are fortunate to have pieces on display that were not seen at the NOMA show.</p><p>The majority of the Cajun’ pieces from the Begneaud Collection have never been on public display until now.</p><p>In a previous interview, Bullard contributed the wide-spread acceptance of Rodrigue’s art, in part, to his ability to market himself in nontraditional ways, such as incorporating his paintings into just a few of the posters designed to commemorate the many festivals held year round in small towns across Louisiana.</p><p>This strategy lead to a series of paintings of famous Louisianans and eventually to a new level of fame in the late 1980s with the introduction of the Blue Dog, inspired by the loup garou’ or Cajun werewolf folktale made iconic by American pop culture.</p><p>Delee said the Blue Dog was first introduced as an illustration to a short story; a story which can be found in the book Bayou: 40 Cajun Short Stories by Chris Segura.</p><p>Each story in the book is accompanied by a full-color, illustration plate by Rodrigue, Delee said. We are excited to have the very same book that launched the now infamous Blue Dog available at our exhibit.</p><p>The Louisiana artist’s work is not just known to those in south Louisiana.</p><p>Rodrigue’s work has been presented in Paris and Rome; he has opened two galleries in New Orleans and Carmel, Calif., and painted the portraits of presidents Regan and Bush Sr., states a news release from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.</p><p>Most recently, Rodrigue had the honor of presenting his work to President George W. Bush, Mexican President Felipe Calderone and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the North American Leaders Summit.</p><p>I feel very privileged that George was willing to work with us to put on a show in such a small town like Patterson, Delee said. It’s a great asset to the area to have an artist of Rodrigue’s magnitude exhibiting in St. Mary Parish.</p><p>The exhibit opened to the pubic July 17 and will continue to Nov. 1. A reception with Rodrigue is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 24. The artist reception is free and open to the public.</p><p>Tickets for the exhibit cost $3 for adults, $2 for seniors age 55 and over, all students and active military personnel with proper identification. Admission for children ages 12 and under is free. Museum hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.</p><p>Tickets may be purchased at the museum, 118 Cotten Road, Patterson. For reservations and information about discounted rates for adult groups of 15 or more, call 399-1268.</p><p>The book Bayou will be available at the exhibit for $25 with a portion of the proceeds to be used to support the Louisiana State Museum – Patterson and the services it provides to St. Mary and surrounding parishes.</p>